Lododowo 22
1 Ŋkɔ nyui didi nyo wu kesinɔnuwo eye ŋudzedzekpɔkpɔ nyo wu klosalo kple sika.
A good name is preferable to abundant riches, and good grace, to silver and to gold.
2 Nu ɖeka siae nàkpɔ le kesinɔtɔ kple ame dahe ŋu: Yehowae nye wo katã Wɔla.
The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker them all.
3 Nunyala kpɔ dzɔgbevɔ̃e gbɔna eye wòɣla eɖokui gake bometsila ya yiyim ko wòle eye wòkpea fu ɖe enu.
The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 Ɖokuibɔbɔ kple Yehowavɔvɔ̃ hea kesinɔnu, bubu kple agbe vɛ.
The reward of humility [and] the fear of the Lord are riches and honor, and life.
5 Ŋu kple mɔkawo le ame vɔ̃ɖi la ƒe mɔ dzi, ke ame si dzɔ eƒe luʋɔ ŋuti la, ate ɖa xaa tso wo gbɔ.
Thorns and snares are on the way of a perverse man: he that doth guard his soul will keep far from them.
6 He ɖevi ɖe mɔ si wòato la dzi eye ne etsi la, mate ɖa le edzi o.
Train up the lad in accordance with his course: even when he groweth old, will he not depart from it.
7 Kesinɔtɔwo ɖua gã ɖe ame dahewo dzi eye nugbanadola zua dɔla na ame si do nugbana la nɛ.
A rich man ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the man that lendeth.
8 Ame si ƒã vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi la axa dzɔgbevɔ̃e, eye woatsrɔ eƒe dɔmedzoe ƒe ameƒoti.
He that soweth injustice will reap wrong-doing; and the rod of God's wrath will not fail.
9 Woayra ame si nyoa dɔ me na amewo elabena emaa eƒe nuɖuɖu kple ame dahewo.
A man of a benevolent eye will indeed be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Nya fewuɖula la do goe eye dzre hã ado go, nenema ke nyahehe kple dzudzu hã awu nu.
Drive away the scorner, and strife will go off; and then will cease contention and dishonor.
11 Ame si lɔ̃ dzi dzadzɛ kple nuƒoƒo si me nya dzetowo le la, eyae fia la adze xɔ̃e.
He that loveth with a pure heart, and hath grace on his lips, will have the king as his friend.
12 Yehowa ƒe ŋkuwo le nugɔmesese ŋu, ke etrɔa gbo nuteƒemawɔlawo ƒe nyawo.
The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge, and he overturneth the words of the treacherous.
13 Kuviatɔ gblɔna be, “Dzata le gota!” alo “Woava wum le ablɔ dzi!”
The slothful saith, There is a lion without, in the midst of the streets shall I be murdered.
14 Nyɔnu ahasitɔ ƒe nu la, ʋe globo wònye eye ame si dzi Yehowa ƒe dziku le la eyae age adze eme.
A deep pit is the mouth of adulterous women: he that hath obtained the indignation of the Lord will fall thereinto.
15 Wobla bometsitsi ɖe ɖevi ƒe dzi ŋu, ke ɖɔɖɔɖo ƒe ameƒoti ana wòate ɖa xaa tso egbɔ.
When folly is bound fast to the heart of a lad, the rod of correction must remove it far from him.
16 Ame si tea ame dahewo ɖe anyi be yeadzi yeƒe kesinɔnuwo ɖe edzi kple ame si naa nu kesinɔtɔ la siaa age ɖe hiã me.
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, [must at length] give to the rich, and come only to want.
17 Ƒu to anyi eye nàse nunyalawo ƒe nyawo, na wò dzi naku ɖe nu si fiam mele ŋuti,
Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
18 elabena edoa dzidzɔ na ame ne èɣla wo ɖe wò dzi me, eye wo katã nanɔ klalo le wò nuyiwo dzi.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thy bosom, if they be altogether firmly seated upon thy lips.
19 Ale be nàɖo dzi ɖe Yehowa ŋu, esia ta mele nu fiam wò ɖo egbea, ɛ̃, wòe mele nu fiam.
That thy trust may be in the Lord, have I made them known to thee this day, yea, even to thee.
20 Ɖe nyemeŋlɔ nufiamenya blaetɔ̃ na wò, aɖaŋuɖonyawo kple nugɔmesenyawo
Have not I written for thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21 be woafia nyateƒe kple kakaɖedzinyawo wò be nàtsɔ nunyanyawo aɖo nya ŋu na ame si dɔ wò la oa?
That I might make thee know rectitude, the sayings of truth; that thou mightest bring back answers of truth to those that send thee?
22 Mègaba ame dahewo le esi woda ahe ta o eye mègate hiãtɔ ɖe to le ʋɔnu o,
Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither crush the afflicted in the gate;
23 elabena Yehowa axɔ nya ɖe wo nu eye wòaha ame si ha wo.
For the Lord will plead their cause, and despoil the life of those that despoil them.
24 Mègadze xɔ̃ ŋutsu dɔmedzoetɔ o eye mègade ha kple ame si doa dziku kabakaba o,
Make no friendship with a man given to anger; and with a man of fury thou must have no intercourse:
25 ne menye nenema o la, àva srɔ̃ eƒe mɔwo eye nàtsɔ ɖokuiwò ade mɔ me.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare for thy own soul.
26 Mèganye ame si ƒua asi akɔ ɖe fenyila nu alo dea megbe na ame si do nugbana la o;
Be not one of those that pledge their hand, or of those that are sureties for debts.
27 eye ne mèkpɔ ga axe fea o la, woaɖe aba si dzi nèmlɔna la gɔ̃ hã le tewò.
If thou have nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Mègaɖe blemaliƒokpe si fofowòwo ɖi la ɖa o.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have established.
29 Èkpɔ ame si bi ɖe eƒe dɔ me la le dɔ wɔma? Asubɔ le fiawo ŋgɔ eye menye le ame tsɛwo ŋgɔ o.
Seest thou a man that is diligent in his work? before kings may he place himself: let him not place himself before obscure men.
